1988
CATW is founded
The First USA Conference on International Trafficking in Women gathers global grassroots advocates to launch the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – International.
1991
Gathering experts on sexual exploitation
CATW convenes an international meeting of experts on sexual exploitation, violence and prostitution. With UNESCO, CATW publishes the proceedings in “The Penn State Report.”
1993
Spreading across the world
The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – Asia-Pacific and the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – Europe are established.
1994
Reaching Latin America
The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – Latin America and the Caribbean launches and develops workshops to educate youth at risk of sexual exploitation in Caracas schools.
1995
Leading on violence against women in Beijing
CATW participates in the seminal Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing and chairs the Violence Against Women Caucus.
1996
Supporting survivor leadership at the UNGA
CATW joins forces with a sex trade survivor to address a special session of the UN General Assembly.
1997
Fostering partnerships, growing a network
CATW organizes first international conference of sex trade survivors, frontline service organizations and women’s rights advocates. The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – Africa is established.
1999
Groundbreaking law launches the Swedish Model
CATW supported Swedish partners advocating for the successfully enacted Ban on the Purchase of Sex, the first law solely decriminalizing prostituted women while holding sex buyers accountable.
2000
Historic Protocol defines human trafficking, recognizes it as crime
The International Human Rights Network, organized by CATW to advocate for a comprehensive legal definition of human trafficking, succeeds when the UNGA adopts the UN Trafficking in Persons Protocol.
2001
Raising awareness through research
CATW publishes “Sex Trafficking of Women in the United States: International and Domestic Trends,” the first systematic report based on interviews with 40 women trafficked and prostituted in the U.S.
2002
Advocating for regional change
The SAARC Convention on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution passes. CATW members and affiliates fought hard to shape provisions of this convention.
2003
Raising awareness and preventing sex trafficking in the Global South
CATW-AP hosts the first summer camp to educate boys and young men on prostitution and sex trafficking. CATW-LAC begins a prevention program in Mexico City, which becomes a model for the region.
2004
South Korea changes its sex trafficking laws
CATW works with South Korean advocates to pass two laws: one to protect and assist victims, expanding social services; another to increase penalties against brothel owners, pimps, and sex buyers.
2005
Anti-trafficking law in action in the Philippines
First conviction under 2003 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, which CATW-AP helped draft. In the lead up, CATW-AP conducted outreach to local government agencies through Bantay-Bugaw(Trafficker-Watch).
2006
Listening to and highlighting survivor voices
Sex trade survivors issue a public statement denouncing the term “sex work” as trivializing the trauma they suffered in prostitution at groundbreaking CATW-AP gathering in Thailand.
2005
Ending demand to prevent trafficking and sexual exploitation
CATW and the European Women’s Lobby begin trafficking and sexual exploitation prevention project to support NGOs working in 13 European countries known as trafficking hot spots.
2006
Raising awareness about the impact of demand
CATW Europe’s “Buying Sex is Not a Sport” protests sex tourism and Germany’s promotion of prostitution during the World Cup. In India, CATW and Apne Aap publish handbook on demand and sex trafficking.
2007
Public education leads to change at all levels
NYS Human Trafficking Act passes following joint campaign. Bulgaria rejects legalizing sex trade after CATW meets Prime Minister. CATW-AP trainings lead Olongapo City council to combat prostitution.
2007
Different tools to combat trafficking in the Global South
CATW, IROKO, NAPTIP organize first international conference on trafficking, prostitution in Nigeria. CATW-LAC creates Red Alert System to locate and provide services to victims; prosecute exploiters.
2008
Iceland adopts the Swedish Model
CATW partner Stigamot is instrumental in advocating for the successful passage of law penalizing sex buying and decriminalizing people in prostitution in Iceland.
2009
The Swedish Model officially becomes the Nordic Model
CATW partner Kvinnefronten along with other organizations in Norway successfully advocate for the passage of The Ban on the Purchase of Sexual Services.
2010
Fighting for a sex trafficking-free internet
Craigslist shuts down “Adult Services” section, a known platform for facilitating sex trafficking, after pressure from CATW’s “Global Campaign for a Sex Trafficking Free Internet” launched that year.
2011
Supporting survivor leadership
Following the success of its first educational camps for sex trafficking survivors in 2010, CATW-AP organizes first Regional Meeting of Survivors in New Delhi, where survivors shared best practices.
2012
Mexico changes its laws on human trafficking
Mexico passes the General Law on the Prevention and Eradication of Crimes of Trafficking in Persons and the Protection and Assistance of Victims of Such Crimes. CATW-LAC's advocacy is crucial.
2014
Shedding a light on sex tourism in Latin America
CATW-LAC leads the “Di No Al Turismo Sexual” (Say No to Sex Tourism) campaign in Brazil during the 2014 World Cup.
2015
Successfully advocating for legislative progress
Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, the first comprehensive federal bill to address domestic trafficking in the U.S., and NYS’s Trafficking Victims Protection and Justice Act are signed into law.
2016
The Nordic Model continues to spread
CATW partners celebrate the enactment of The French Act Against Prostitution, the strongest law of its kind in the world. CATW Europe initiated proceedings in the early 2000s that led to its passage.
2017
Becoming the Equality Model
Organizations in the Republic of Ireland successfully advocate for the passage of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2015. CATW supported survivor leaders and frontline partners in their advocacy.
2018
A victory for the Global Campaign for a Sex Trafficking Free Internet
The Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act is signed into law following years-long advocacy with partners to hold websites knowingly facilitating sex trafficking accountable.
2019
Celebrating 30 years by energizing initiative to end violence against women
Global conference in Madrid commemorates CATW’s 30th anniversary and creates strategies for the 5.2 Global Partnership. It is the largest recorded international feminist conference in Spain’s history.
2019
Launch of New Yorkers for the Equality Model
A survivor-led alliance of more than 30 advocates, prostitution and sex trafficking survivors, and organizational partners begins work to bring the Equality Model to NYS. CATW is a member.
2020
Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic
At the Edge of the Margins virtual round table series begins to shed light on the impact of the crisis and other emerging issues; we support frontline partners in the Philippines and South Africa.
2021
The Sex Trade Survivors Justice and Equality Act
The Sex Trade Survivors Justice and Equality Act, a bill developed in partnership with survivors of the sex trade and advocates, is introduced to the New York State Legislature.
2023
Maine passes Equality Model legislation
In June 2023, Maine became the first U.S. state to adopt a legal framework known as the Equality Model, recognizing the system of prostitution as a barrier to equality.
2024
UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls publishes a report on prostitution
The UN Special Rapporteur publishes her groundbreaking report calling on governments to understand the system of prostitution as one of exploitation and human rights abuses.
